Home rule beats Sacramento dictates

In a recent Auburn Journal story regarding Measure A (Sunday, March 25), which will come to a vote in June, you acknowledged the fact that opponents are being funded by unions. Their campaign is heavily funded and full of misinformation designed to frighten people into believing that a charter city would pave the way for more taxes, higher fees, penalties and increased regulation.
However, a review of the charter reveals just the opposite. In fact, the charter allows for more local control, so Auburn would not be subject to many of the stringent, costly and unfunded mandates required of a general law city.
The charter amendment is based on the belief that local government has a closer affinity to the people and a greater flexibility to adopt ordinances that meet the needs of its residents. Also, built-in safeguards prevent Auburn from the abuse observed by some other cities. One-hundred twenty cities in California, including Roseville and Grass Valley, have this far become charter cities. In doing so, they have realized the financial benefit of remaining in control of funds that would otherwise have been appropriated through mandates placed on various public works projects.
As a charter city, many of Auburn’s community projects that use volunteers are currently exempt from having to be paid “prevailing wage.” However, in 2017 legislation out of Sacramento would change all that. Can you imagine the devastating effect that would have on our community if we were required to pay volunteers? You could forget about another Project Auburn.
The real issue here is home rule vs. being dictated to by Sacramento where many new laws and regulations are enacted behind closed doors without regard to how they might affect small communities like ours. Vote yes on Measure A (Auburn Charter) this June.
Bill Radakovitz, Auburn